Zurich blackmails demands CHF 165,000 - judgment speaks judgment!

Ein Zürcher Mann wurde wegen Erpressung verurteilt, nachdem er 165.000 Franken für den Rückzug eines Baurekurses verlangte.
A Zurich man was convicted of extortion after asking CHF 165,000 to withdraw a construction course. (Symbolbild/MMV)

Zurich blackmails demands CHF 165,000 - judgment speaks judgment!

Binz, Deutschland - A striking legal dispute and a surprising turn in a neighborhood project currently employ the minds in the Zurich region. A Zurich man, who demanded CHF 165,000 to his neighbor to withdraw a construction course, was now convicted by the Horgen district court for extortion. Under this background, many keep their fingers crossed for the elderly woman, who lived in her family home on Lake Zurich for over five decades and feared the view of her beloved water.

The case began when the senior citizen expressed concerns about a planned new building project on the neighboring property. Her son, who wanted to protect against the upcoming changes, appealed against the building permit after discovering discrepancies in the construction project. Initially, the client, a real estate company, offered CHF 20,000 for the withdrawal of the recourse, but the son sensed an opportunity and demanded CHF 165,000 to compensate for the expected loss of value of his mother. The money was ultimately paid and the appeal was history.

court condemned blackmail

But the story does not end here. Around two years after this perfidious transaction, the real estate company showed the man, which led to a process of extortion. The prosecutor expressed concerns that such neighbors are increasingly using recuries as pressure tools to gain advantages. The court made it clear that the accused had no legal entitlement to the required amount and pronounced a conditional imprisonment of twelve months, which was subjected to a trial for two years. Also, the convict not only has to repay the CHF 165,000 and interest, but also cover a bus of CHF 3,000 and the procedural costs.

extortion, as it comes up here, should not be underestimated. As an expert explains, it is a serious offense that is regulated in German criminal law under Section 253 of the Criminal Code. Typically, a prison sentence of up to five years is imposed on blackmail, depending on the circumstances of the individual case. The court clearly stated that even lower amounts in practice can lead to a legal conviction.

The effects on the neighborhood

The new real estate company has meanwhile been completed and the new residents have already moved in. The situation remains tense for the senior citizen, even if the legal conflict has now concluded. The judgment has not yet been final. This shows once again how complicated and turbulent neighborhood affairs can be.

The district court has made a sign with this decision that legal claims and their enforcement cannot be achieved with threats and blackmail. Against this background, many are wondering: How can a harmonious living together be promoted despite conflicts in the neighborhood?

The case around the senior and her son will continue to be a lesson for everyone who will take care of their interests in their own neighborhood. This story shows that the pursuit of justice can sometimes beat unexpected curves.

For everyone who wants to learn more about the legal foundations of blackmail, the excellently prepared information can be found on daililanzeiger.ch and nau.ch .

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OrtBinz, Deutschland
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